Variability of clay-mineral composition on Carolina Slope (NW Atlantic) during marine isotope stages 1-3 and its paleoceanographic significance

M. N. Çaǧatay*, L. D. Keigwin, N. Okay, E. San, O. Algan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The clay-mineral composition of marine isotope stages 1-3 sediments at the Ocean Drilling program (ODP) Site 1055 on the Carolina Slope consists mainly of illite, kaolinite, chlorite and smectite. Clay-mineral variability is marked by a distinct increase in the relative amounts of kaolinite and smectite during the Holocene and by high illite and to a lesser extent chlorite relative amounts during marine isotopic stages 2 and 3. This grouping of clay minerals as two different assemblages during different isotopic stages suggest their different source affinities. The increase in the 'kaolinite+smectite' assemblage in the Holocene is accompanied by a significant increase in the sedimentation rate. The change in the sedimentation regime after the Last Glacial Maximum is interpreted to be related to resuspension and advection of clays and silts by increased deep water activity over the Bermuda Rise, followed by their transport to Site 1055 on the Carolina Slope by shallow elements of the North Atlantic Deep Water. High amplitude variations with high illite amounts characterize marine isotope stage 3 and appear to be related to Heinrich events.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)163-174
Number of pages12
JournalMarine Geology
Volume189
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2002

Funding

Project support by TÜBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council; Project 198Y081) to M.N.Ç. for the clay mineral analysis under ‘Turkish National Geology and Geophysics Programme’ (Coordinator: Naci Görür) and for participation in the ODP Leg-172 activities is gratefully acknowledged.

FundersFunder number
Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council198Y081
Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu

    Keywords

    • Carolina Slope
    • Clay mineralogy
    • NW Atlantic Ocean
    • Paleoceanography
    • Stages 1-3

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